The convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, Au Nok-hin, says the public appears to be unsure exactly what the Independent Police Complaints Council does. He also says its membership is not balanced, and there have been concerns about its transparency and efficiency. Au tells Annemarie Evans that some of the council's members don't appear to be familiar with police affairs either.

The environmental group Green Power is calling for legislation requiring drinks companies to pay for the recycling of their cartons. It estimates 3.7 billion cartons are dumped into the city's landfills every year - the equivalent of one-and-a-half per person per day. A similar levy on glass bottles will come into effect next year. Green Power's Tommy Yu told Jim Gould that the recycling of the cartons won't cost the companies much.

Official sources say authorities in the mainland's northwest Xinjiang region have issued a directive banning the use of the Uyghur language at all education levels up to and including secondary school. People found in violation of the order will face "severe punishment". The new ban marks one of the strongest measures yet from Beijing aimed at assimilating ethnic Uyghurs. The China Researcher for Amnesty International, Willaim Nee, says the ban is confined to only one prefecture. But he tells Annemarie Evans it could have incredible long term ramifications.